Lesson Transcript

Eric: Welcome to 3-Minute Cantonese Season 1, Lesson 16 - Asking Directions. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for and understand basic directions in Cantonese.

Body

Eric: Here's how to ask 'Where is the station?' in Cantonese.

Olivia: [Normal] 車站喺邊度?(ce1 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6)

Eric: First is a noun meaning 'train station'

Olivia: [Normal] 車站 [Slow] 車站 (ce1 zaam6)

Eric: Next is the preposition meaning 'at'

Olivia: [Normal] 喺 [Slow] 喺(hai2)

Eric: Last is the pronoun meaning 'where'

Olivia: [Normal] 邊度 [Slow] 邊度(bin1 dou6 )

Eric: Listen again to the question meaning 'Where is the station?'

Olivia: [Slow] 車站喺邊度? [Normal] 車站喺邊度?(ce1 zaam6 hai2 bin1 dou6)

Eric: Now, imagine you're speaking to a stranger. Here's how you can tell them, 'Go straight.'

Olivia: [Normal] 直行。(zik6 haang4)

Eric: First is an adjective meaning ‘straight'

Olivia: [Normal] 直 [Slow] 直 (zik6 )

Eric: Last is the verb meaning 'to walk'

Olivia: [Normal] 行 [Slow] 行(haang4)

Eric: Listen again to the phrase meaning 'Go straight.'

Olivia: [Slow] 直行。 [Normal] 直行。(zik6 haang4)

Eric: Here's a response meaning 'Turn right.'

Olivia: [Normal] 轉右。(zyun3 jau6)

Eric: First is a verb meaning 'Turn'

Olivia: [Normal] 轉 [Slow] 轉(zyun3)

Eric: Last is the adjective meaning 'right'

Olivia: [Normal] 右 [Slow] 右(jau6)

Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'Turn right.'

Olivia: [Slow] 轉右。 [Normal] 轉右。(zyun3 jau6)

Eric: Here's a response meaning, 'Turn left.'

Olivia: [Normal] 轉左。(zyun3 zo2)

Eric: First is a verb meaning 'Turn'

Olivia: [Normal] 轉 [Slow] 轉(zyun3)

Eric: Last is the adjective meaning 'left'

Olivia: [Normal] 左 [Slow] 左(zo2)

Eric: Listen again to the response meaning 'Turn left.'

Olivia: [Slow] 轉左。 [Normal] 轉左。(zyun3 zo2)

Cultural Insight

Eric: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight.

Olivia: There’s no solid rule that says when you need to use 邊度 (bin1 dou6) meaning “where” instead of 邊 (bin1), which also means “where.” Usually for longer questions, using 邊度 (bin1 dou6) would be safer. And of course, you can always substitute 邊 (bin1) with 邊度 (bin1 dou6), and it would not be wrong. It’s just a habit that Cantonese speakers have – they tend to shorten their speech!

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CantoneseClass101.com

Monday at 06:30 PM

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Do you know any other phrases you can use give directions? Write them in the comments!

Cantoneseclass101.com

Thursday at 02:51 AM

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Hi Steven,

游泳池jau4 wing6 ci4～ swimming pool。

Siuling

Team CantoneseClass101.com

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